Sheet-delivery mechanism.



RfHITCHCOCK.

SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1914.

1,1 91,787. Patented Ju1y18, 1916:;

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REUBEN HITCHCOCK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND FOLDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SHEET-DELIVERY MECHANISM.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, REUBEN HrrcHoooK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Delivery Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in sheet-delivery mechanism-for paper folding machines, printing presses and the like, and has for its object the provision of extremely simple automatic means for delivering the folded sheets or signatures at whatever rate they may be supplied to the delivery table, and Without permitting said signatures to become inserted one within another.

Briefly described, the mechanism of my invention comprises a traveling canvas band or apron extending over inner and outer rolls and drawn taut therebetween; the surface of which forms a traveling deliverytable. Associated with the inner roll is a ratchet device for advancing the deliverytable automatically, which ratchet device is adapted to be adjusted for securing a greater or less movement of the table upon each intermittent actuation thereof. A simple retaining device of special form bears upon the delivery table and the signatures, and is adapted to prevent one or more of the folded sheets last passed to the table, from moving with the traveling surface thereof,

' whereby the same are held in proper position to permit the next following sheet to slide on top, instead of being inserted between the folds of any previously delivered signature.

Further details of my improvement will be explained. in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical section on'line 1-1, showing the upper end of the deliverytable and its actuating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a detail showing a special form of retaining member upon a larger scale.

The same character of reference is employed to indicate similar parts in each of the several figures of the drawing.

Delivery rolls a, b, are suitably journaled in the frame 0 and serve to pass the folded sheets d between guides e, to the traveling surface of the delivery-table. The traveling surface of said delivery-table comprises a Specification of Letters Patent.

canvas band or apron f extending the entire width of the machine, passing over inner and outer rollers g, It, the inner roller being equipped with a ratchet wheel 71 adapted intermittently to advance the same together with the apron f, the supporting surface of which travels toward the right.

Power is supplied to the shaft of roller a, which is connected to gear j, shown partially broken away to exhibit its co-acting cam 70. This cam bears upon the upper end of lever l, which carries a dog m engaging the ratchet wheel 2'. Accordingly, at each movement of the lever, the ratchet wheel is advanced a distance corresponding to the movement of the lever effected by cam is. The traveling apron f, together with the supported sheets or signatures, of course are'correspondingly advanced at each movement of the lever. However, a long adjusting screw 9?. is provided at the side of the apron, the extremity Patented July 18, 1916.

Application filed April 4, 1914-. Serial No. 829,695.

of which is normally engaged by the lower controlled movements of the ratchet and traveling apron, are readily adjusted by means of said screw. A supporting rod 77 mounted upon the laterally adjustable block w extends above apron f,whereon a block q' is longitudinally adjustable in turn, toward and from the rolls a, b. Two links 0" serve to support an upright s, which mounts at its lower end an upwardly curved guide t, beneath which is positioned an abutment or shoulder 11.. These parts together form a retaining member for preventing the advance of the last delivered sheet or sheets, so that they will lie in proper position to receive the next succeeding sheet or signature directly on top thereof. This retaining member may be adjusted toward or from the delivery rolls by moving the block 9, correadjustable by moving the block w, although I it is preferable to use but a single one positioned to engage the mid-edge of the folded sheet as it comes from the rolls.

The operation of my improved deliverytable mechanism is as follows: The folded end of the table, where they may be removed or received in any suitable stacking device. As each folded sheet d comes from between the rolls a, 6, its forward edge is passed beneath guide 6 against which it is directed, and along the top of the preceding sheet a, which is held stationarily upon the table by the abutment u of the retaining device, which abutment in turn engages the edge of sheet d. If the signatures are of sufficient thickness, only one Will be retained by said abutment as the signature passes beneath the guide t and forces the preceding sheet out of engagement with said abutment If the folded sheets are relatively thin, several may be retained by the abutment, but this is immaterial, since it is necessary only that the sheet last delivered may be held in position for receiving the next succeeding sheet or signature on top thereof, instead of permitting it to enter between its folds. This is accomplished. by the retaining device, which rides upon the stack of signatures and holds one or more sheets with the rear edges positioned to support the forward folded 1 edge of the neXt sheet;

The embodiment .of my invention is seen to be extremely simple; the essentials where-- of are shown inthe drawings without additional co-acting apparatus, such as a folding machine with which it is primarily designed to operate.

Having now described the preferred embodiment of my invention, and the operation thereof, I claim as new and deslre to secure I retaining member positioned above said by Letters Patent, the following 1. In sheet-delivery mechanism, the combination with a traveling table, of means for supplying folded sheets or signatures thereto, and an automatic retaining member positioned above said traveling table to ride upon and hold the last delivered sheet against movement with the table, substantially as set forth.

' 2. In sheet-delivery mechanism, the combination with delivery rolls, of a traveling belt or apron cooperating therewith to receive and convey the sheets, an adjustable traveling belt comprising an abutment for the edge of the sheet and an upwardly extending portion adapted to direct the sheet against said abutment, said member being above and partially supported by the sheets,

substantially as set forth.

3-In sheet-delivery mechanism, the combination with delivery rolls, of a delivery table comprising a belt or canvas band, and inner and outer rolls over which it is adapted to travel for conveying the sheets, interabutment, substantially as set forth.

4. In sheet-delivery mechanism, the combination with delivery rolls, of a traveling belt forming the delivery table, adjustable mechanism for effecting the travel of said table, and an adjustable retaining device comprising an abutment for engaging the edge of the. sheet last delivered, a guide to direct the sheet against the abutment and a yielding support for said retaining devices, substantially as set forth.

5. In sheet-delivery mechanism, the combination with a traveling or movable table, of means for successively supplying folded sheets or signatures thereto, a guide for directing and holding said sheets, and an automatic retaining member positioned above said table and adapted successively to ride upon and to engage and hold the last deliver-ed sheet against movement'with said table,'substantially as set forth.

6. In sheet-delivery mechanism, the combination with delivery rolls, of a traveling belt or band forming the delivery table, a guide for directing the sheets and an ad justable retainingmember comprising an abutment adapted to engage the edge of the sheet, a yielding support therefor, and a guide movable or yieldingly riding upon the sheets and adapted to direct them against the abutment each in turn, substantially as set forth.

7. In sheet-delivery mechanism, the combination with a moving delivery table, of means for passing folded sheets thereon, a guide against which said sheets are directed, adapted to pass the sheets on top of each other, and an automatic retaining member positioned above the moving delivery table to engage all of said sheets successively and hold the last delivered sheet or sheets against movement with the table, substantially as set forth.

8. In sheet-delivery mechanism, the combination with a traveling delivery-table, of

means for successively supplying folded sheets thereto, a co-acting detent member positioned above said table comprising an abutment and an angular guide'extending from the upper portion of said abutment, and means for adjustably and yieldingly supporting said detent member in position to ride upon the folded sheets, substantially as set forth.

9. In sheet-delivery mechanism, the combination with a traveling band forming the delivery-table, means for advancing the same, and a retaining member comprising a spring t upwardly bent to form a guide and an abutment u, yielding supports 1' and an adjustable member q, all positioned above the surface of the delivery-table and adapted successively to engage and retain the last delivered sheet against movement therewith, substantially as set forth.

10. In sheet-delivery mechanism, the com bination with a traveling band f forming the delivery-table, of means,for successively passing folded sheets thereto, adjustable means for intermittently advancing said band, a guide 6' for directing the sheets thereon, and a retaining member comprising a spring t upwardly bent to form a guide and an abutment 'w, yielding supports '1- and an adjustable member 9; all positioned above the surface of the delivery-table and adapted successively to engage and retain the last delivered sheet against movement therewith, substantially as set forth.

11. In sheet-delivery mechanism, the combination with a traveling delivery-table comprising an endless band and means for advancing the same, of a retaining member adjustably mounted above said band, comprising a connected guide and downwardly extending detent, and a yielding support for said guide and detent adapted successively to retain each sheet against movement with the delivery-table and permit other sheets to be released and travel beneath said member, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I donow aflix-my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN HITCHCOOK.

Witnesses:

J. R. CURTIs, ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE. 

